Is the mark of a true numismatist when you are able to write commentary in books written by others?

Longacre

Personally, I like my numismatic books in pristine condition. I read them, for sure, but I try to keep them as nice as possible (no eating KFC while reading a QDB book for me).

I like to think that the reason why I don’t write in my books is because I don’t like to mess up a nicely printed, new book. However, I don’t think that is the reason. I believe the reason truly is because I have not crossed that line yet and become a “true numismatist”, where I can write comments and side notes into a book written by another. When a true numismatist reads a book authored by another person, the reader has such an independent command of the material that their reaction is not merely absorbing the text in its basic written form, but rather analyzing and reacting to the text with their own insights, theories, and possibly conflicting opinions.

Does anyone think the mark of a true numismatist is when you start to challenge what you read, and get to the point where you actually write commentary, make corrections, and state opinions in the work done by another?

Who here feels comfortable doing that, and what subject matter do you do it for? Which of your books has the most handwritten commentary in it?

tahoe98

it's gonna take some time for me to digest all of that

Broadstruck

the mark of a true numismatist when you are able to write ...

the BIG checks.

Coinosaurus

I will not write in the expensive books. But if I buy a beat up copy from abebooks or amazon, I'm all over it.

Just picked up the history of the BEP, 1862-1962. Generally sells for $50 or so. My copy was $15 and it seems to have been printed in a basement, read in a basement, and stored in a basement since 1962. I'm about half way through it and have notes all over the place. It's a lot more convenient than putting it all in a computer while I am reading.

There is also a certain class of books which have to be annotated. I have a lot of notes in my copy of Denga's mint medals - examples I have seen, auction records, additional research I have done, etc. Fortunately there is a lot of white space in that book and it is easy to do this.

The presentation copies, leather bound volumes, etc., I will not touch.

DaveG

I think the mark of any intelligent person is to challenge what one reads.

As far as numismatic books go, I think that most of the professional-class researchers would agree that there are very few that can't stand some updating, correcting or elaboration.

In my own area of interest (financial and commercial history of the 1840s and 1850s), I don't feel that I've read more than a tiny percentage of what's out there, but what I've read so far led me to correct an "error" in one of QDB's books.

(It was so exciting to find something that led me to a different interpretation than he had reached! I doubt it'll ever happen again, either.)

jfoot13

I guess anybody can write in the book but what you write determines if your a numismatist or just a book critic... usually my notations are questions to myself, concerning a coin I have or a notation to another reference if leads me to a different conclusion.. the books I have the most #2 lead spread in are " the best of the jefferson nickel doubled die varieties " and my cherry pickers guide.. and I use lead because my questions change alot,,,

Dentuck

Longacre, I only recently gave up my old Kamisar-Lafaves from college. (They survived countless bookshelf purges over the years, as I sent old books to Goodwill to make room for new purchases.)

From the amount of pencil notations and marginalia, you'd think I was a professor of criminal law.

Longacre

<< <i>Longacre, I only recently gave up my old Kamisar-Lafaves from college. (They survived countless bookshelf purges over the years, as I sent old books to Goodwill to make room for new purchases.)

From the amount of pencil notations and marginalia, you'd think I was a professor of criminal law. >>



Ha! I have all of my books from law school, which just take up space on my bookshelf. Maybe someday if I am appointed to the US Supreme Court, they will be worth some money.

RichieURich

I'm not sure. But if you can find errors in numismatic books, that tells you something.

lathmach

My books are for my information. I write notes in them. Lots of notes.
I know I won't get diddley if I sell them, but they're not for sale.
Doing this adds to the value of the work for me, it doesn't detract from it.
I don't think this has anything to do with being a True Numismatist.
I'm just a coin collector.

Ray

shorecoll

Longacre, go ahead and write in them. When you die and your collection is sold, your heirs will find out if your commentary was worth a premium. There are quite a few prominent numismatists, including specialists that people outside their specialty have never heard of, that command a significant premium for annotated works. On the other hand, you might just completely devalue your library, but you won't care, you'll be dead.

SeattleSlammer

I still love that "Comprehensive Silver Dollar Encyclopedia" by Highfill that is both a massive personal scrapbook and extremely informative encyclopedia....but I haven't written in it yet.

RWB

I commonly annotate books when I notice an interesting idea or major error - but I do the same thing to books I've written.

I, too, have all my old law schools books - well, they're not really bound books - more like scrolls.

Coinosaurus

<< <i>I, too, have all my old law schools books - well, they're not really bound books - more like scrolls. >>



Yeah, probably bound in human skin at that

firstmint

When I have notes to review, I generally make a copy of the page and write something on that, rather than in the book. That way, when a certain issue is brought forth, I can grab the papers and lay them flat on the desk, rather than keeping the entire book open and trying to type at the same time.

Mowgli

<< <i>Does anyone think the mark of a true numismatist is when you start to challenge what you read, and get to the point where you actually write commentary, make corrections, and state opinions in the work done by another?

<< <i>

I think that whatever our field of expertise that we get to a point where we are able to challenge the work of others. I used to sit is awe at technical conferences at the knowledge of other people but eventually I could tell when the information or conclusions were wrong. It seems that a true numismatist would have sufficient knowledge and experience to do the same - as to whether he would write in their books is something else.

TwoSides2aCoin

I follow my conscience. I don't know if I'll ever be a true numismatist.

ProofArtworkonCircs

I usually fight down the urge to do so.